NAV BAR

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Weekly Weigh In

Happy Tuesday! Robyn's back this week (yay!). Let's hop right in.

Robyn:

Well, I am back. Better than
before – well, that is questionable. I am down 1 pounds since we last
met. So, I am basically down 3 pounds from my heaviest. Let’s just
attribute that to stress loss and move on. In any event, I am trying (yet
again) to refocus my energies. Today is the first day that the sun is out. I am
hoping with spring upon us, I will get back out and back on the couch to 5K
track (yes, 5K..not 10K)….

I am finding it difficult to stay on track these days. I will say
this—I have not gone food shopping in weeks. So my apartment is basically void
of any food. Which, in the end, is probably a good thing. It keeps
me from snacking. So instead of going home, snacking, cooking dinner and then
snacking, I am able to just have a fulsome dinner and that’s it. I have
also learned a great lesson the past couple of weeks – no reason to lose weight
for an “event.” Its just too much pressure. Instead, focus on losing
slowly and steadily in a manner that works for you….

My goal this week is to get back to counting points, get some walk time
outside, and to keep up with the blogging!!! I have been doing small
things – like just getting off the bus one stop earlier, walking to a further
bus stop, going to the mall just so I am walking instead of sitting on a
couch. These things do seem to add up and help.

It has been a long time since I set a weight
loss goal and made this kind of progress. A good 8 years to be exact. I should
explain so you don’t think I’ve been on a food bender since 2006 (though I have
been at times).

If you’ve been keeping up with the Weekly Weigh In,
you know a lot of my weight gain/loss story. Before I joined Weight Watchers
the first time, I’d packed on about 60 pounds over the course of 10 years. I
have college, law school and a few years working crazy hours (coupled with a
lack of discipline when it comes to ordering takeout) to blame for that. In
that time, I had some spurts of weight loss but it was always back to the set
point eventually. For example, I got really into the gym my last year of law
school to battle stress. Then I sat still for the summer while studying for the
bar exam. I popped right back to heavy land.

Finally, I got fed up (I’m sure I saw an
unflattering photo of myself) and joined Weight Watchers with some of my
colleagues. It worked well (albeit
slowly). I was in the maintenance phase when I got really sick (thanks Lupus) and
dropped to an unhealthy weight (about 30 pounds under my goal weight) and
turned into a brittle, gaunt version of myself.

I was determined to put on weight and started eating
like an animal. I had burgers for lunch a few times a week and ate huge amounts
of pasta for dinner. Eventually, I got on the right meds and went back to my healthy
weight…and then, right past it because of how comfortable I’d gotten with eating
crappy processed food on the regular. It didn’t help that my cooking skills
left something to be desired (mainly edibility). Before I knew it, I was 30
pounds over my goal weight and 30 pounds away from heaviest weight. I was fed up with myself.

It was because of being fed up that I tried going
vegan for 21 days at the start of 2010. It did a number on me in a great way. I’d
never felt better. I didn’t lose much weight but I was still on board with the
change. Now, as you know, I’m
vegetarian. At the start of this year, I felt like I was doing some things for
my overall health, but it was finally time to shed the excess pounds. There’s
no doubt extra weight is weighing (literally) on my already stressed body. I
went back to Weight Watchers and the rest is (recent) history. So what’s
different?

* I am not in it for appearances this time. It’s nice
to look good in clothes but my clothes fit well now (they may not be in the
size I’d like-lol-but they do fit). This time, I am in it because I want to
feel strong. I’m excited about having more stamina…about being able to do
increasingly complicated yoga moves, about lifting weights and doing boxing
drills with Ash. Maybe it’s because illness has weakened me over the last
several years. This is like my “F Off”
to sickness. It feels like a new start.

* I don’t look at each day as a new start. Let’s say I
have pizza for dinner (like last night during the NCAA Men’s Finals). Back in the day (like December of last year), I would write off the entire night and go for a few slices, some cookies and some wine. Now, I pre-plan and try to budget for the little indulgences I refuse to deprive myself of. So, in a night where pizza is on the menu, I budget for a slice or two and fill the rest of the plate with salad so I'm not jonesing for a third slice.

* I have a fitness buff in my house...and he let's me go at my own pace...and doesn't shame me for eating pizza. He is there as a resource when I have questions and a motivator when I need a little push to go to the gym. And when I flex my tiny biceps, he doesn't laugh. He just says he's proud of me.

* It feels like a life shift rather than a fad. This is not "I'll lose 30 pounds for my trip to the beach and then go for a huge ice cream sundae." It's get it right and keep it that way. In other words, it feels like a habit and while I don't miss the gym when I skip a day, I do jump right back into the swing of things.

This week's workout uses a medicine ball. It's a fun way to vary your routine and still use weight. What's your favorite weight training tool? Do you go for traditional machines and free weights or do you reach for kettle bells, medicine balls and bands?

Finally, today's recipe is one that you actually have to cook (I figured I'd give you a little break from the raw recipes) AND, there's cheese. I see you smiling. You can check out the recipe for Kale and Portobello Lasagna courtesy of Food Network here.

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hello, my name is nicole!
Nicole’s Curated Life started with a major shift in my life. Over time, it has become a place to share my journey to a life well lived. Whether through inspirational quotes, recipes, music or fitness and beauty tips, the goal is always to encourage my readers to embrace everything in their stories and use what they’ve collected (tangible and intangible) as tools for living a fulfilled life.